You just don't pay them that much attention. As you alluded to, you haven't been around hockey much, so it's hard for you to understand the fervor that some of us have for it.

There are good and bad fans in every sport. The trick is knowing what is in jest and what is something you should be alarmed at. If the idea of your son being exposed to such choice phrases as "take your skate off and stab him with it," "Hey, (insert player name here) you skate like old people fuck," and "the only thing with a bigger five hole is my ex-wife's vag," is just too much, find the "family friendly" section. Most professional arenas have them now, it's a section where it's understood that there are little ears around, and maybe their parents are sensitive to the kind of language that we rabid hockey fans sometimes display. The tickets are usually a bit cheaper too.

But honestly, I don't understand this need to shield one's child from such displays. Its going to happen. Maybe you can shield them for a little while, but eventually you'll be in a situation where you don't have any control and it'll come out. Maybe it'll happen at school. Maybe some soccer mom will have a bad day. Maybe you'll come across a fat guy in Alabama wearing a hockey jersey who's had enough of old ladies and he snaps. The point is, all of it is out there. The only way to shield your kids from it is to encase them in glass until they're old enough to leave home. But then what do you get? Tim Tebow.

The way I see it, if you are doing your job as a parent and explaining to your little ones what's going on and why they aren't allowed to say things like everyone around you is using, then there isn't going to be a problem. I've been taking my daughter to games since she was eighteen months, and she's heard all of it, heard me say some of it (not the ex crack, I'd never do that in front of her), and you know what? She doesn't reciprocate. Because I've taken the time to explain to her what's going on and why.

Take him to a game or twenty, you'll both love it and there really is no better sport to see live. Like some comedian once said, going to a hockey game in person is like sharing an orgasm with 10,000 of your closest friends.

-Will
gamingwithbaby.com | all your diapers are belong to us
my flickr

To be honest, hockey has become a much better 'family' type outing as the ticket prices have forced "Joe Drunk" out of the stands. Granted, there are idiot rich folks out there sitting in the corporate seats, but fewer today than in years past. We went to the Pru Center this year and aside from a fight in the stands (best stand fight I've seen in a long time) things were pretty calm :-)

But like Dayv said, I'd never take my kid to any game in Philly! They have a jail and a courthouse in the stadiums there! Actually, the Meadowlands is pretty bad too, went to see my Steelers play the Jets this season. Old Chicago Stadium was pretty rough back in the day too. I myself didn't go to Univ Michigan hockey games without ear protection so that *I* wouldn't get morally corrupted!

But, how about those Pens? Dayv, thoughts? If you want to fly out, you can stay with me and we'll find tix to the games this week. Would be great!

Cheers,
PittCaleb

I don't want to talk about the penguins right now.

GO FLYERS!!!!!!

www.athomedadconvention.com

The Wings are the shiznit.

As for rabid hockey fans, it really will depend on the area you are in and also the section you are in and the professional level you are watching (OHL, NHL, AHL, ECHL, etc...)

When I use to watch the Gulls in San Diego (ECHL for a couple of years before they folded) the fans were [i]very[i] mouthy...but not as bad as the LA goons up in the beer-snot-bleachers at the Kings (NHL) games I went to.

San Jose (NHL) has very enthusiastic but non-swearing fans it seems, even in the nosebleeds where I usually sit.

The Cornwall Royals (OHL before they folded) had some really abusive fans in the stands.

It just all depends. But I don't think hockey is unique. Maybe the difference is that in baseball and soccer the atheletes aren't really supposed to mess with each other, so it's tougher for fans to get amped up enough to swear at the opposing players.

http://backpackingdad.blogspot.com

If you want to stay away from a-hole fans, DO NOT go to a Philadelphia Eagles game wearing someone else's jersey. Must be the pollution or something that causes them to be very agressive...

LET'S GO REDWINGS!!

Aye, there's nary an animal alive that can outrun a greased scotsman...